The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
School of Social Work
Course Number:
Course Title:
Faculty:
SoWo 880-238
Sustainability and Social Enterprise
Gary M. Nelson, DSW
Tele: 919.962.4370 (Gary)
Email: gmnelson@email.unc.edu
Fall 2015: Tues 2-4:50 pm, Tate Turner Kuralt Bldg.
Room 226 Tate Turner Kuralt
Office Hours: Tuesdays 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Course Description
This course will examine issues and perspectives on sustainability, social enterprise and
solutions to social and economic found in the emerging fourth sector of our economy.
The class will examine social entrepreneurship and sustainable community development
through a framework that combines local, national and global perspectives on
sustainability’s triple bottom line: 1. economic prosperity; 2. social equity; and 3.
environmental stewardship and the role of social enterprise in successfully addressing
community challenges and opportunities. Major class project—creation of a real world
social enterprise business plan.
Course Objectives
At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to do the following:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the effect of their personal social and cultural
background and experiences (including personal and professional values) on their
own thinking, views and practice of sustainability. This understanding will be
reflected in a plan for the student’s growth and work;
2. Articulate working definitions of sustainability, sustainable development, social
enterprise and the Fourth Sector that incorporate information from the past, as
well as current thinking about the terms, and provides practical, ethically based
direction for the student’s work on sustainability, sustainable development and
social enterprise design and creation;
3. Demonstrate a working knowledge of sustainable development and social
enterprise challenges in their community, the United States and the world;
4. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the interface between sustainable
development, culture and gender; and
5. Understand local and regional community challenges and opportunities.
6. Demonstrate an ability to apply a learning framework to a sustainable
development and/or social enterprise initiative in a community of interest that
appreciates the strengths of current approaches, identifies continuing challenges to
sustainability and social enterprises, and sets forth a series of recommendations to
overcome those challenges.
7. Demonstrate the ability to design and prepare for launch, a local social enterprise
designed successfully address a pressing social and/or community challenge,
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Required Text
Senge, Peter et. al. (2010). The Necessary Revolution: Working Together to
Create a Sustainable World. New York: Broadway Books.
Recommended Texts
Holman, Peggy, Tom Devane, and Steven Cady (2007). The Change Handbook.
San Francisco, CA. Bearrett-Koehler Publishers.
Transformative Action Institute (2013). Teachers Manual (Guide for teaching
transformative thinking and change).
Readings of Interest
1. Barabasi, Albert-Laszlo (2003). Linked. New York: A Plume Book.
2. Christensen, Clayton M. (1997). The Innovators Dilemma: When New
Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail. Boston: Harvard Business Review
Press.
3. Ellerman, David (2006). Helping People Help Themselves. Ann Arbor, MI: The
University of Michigan Press.
4. Esty, Daniel C. and Andrew S. Winston (2006). Green to Gold. New Haven:
Yale University Press.
5. Friedman, Thomas L. (2005). The World is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st
Century. New York, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
6. Fredrickson, Barbara L. (2009). Positivity. New York: Three Rivers Press.
7. Frick, Don M. and Larry C. Spears. (1996). Robert Greenleaf: On Becoming a
Servant Leader. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publisher.
8. Goleman, Daniel (2009). Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden
Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything. New York: Broadway Books.
9. Hart, Maureen (1999). Guidelines to Sustainable Community Indicators. Second
Edition, North Andover, MA: Hart Environmental Dta.
10. Hawken, Paul, Amory Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins (1999). Natural Capitalism:
Creating the Next Industrial Revolution.
11. Henderson, Hazel (1996). Buildingg a Win-Win World: Life Beyond Global
Economic Warfare. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
12. Martin, Roger (2007). The Opposable Mind. Boston: Harvard Business Review
Press.
13. McDonough, William and Michael Braungart (2002). Cradle to Cradle:
Remaking the Way We Make Things. New York: North Point Press.
14. McKibben, Bill (2010). Eaarth: Making A Life on a Tough New Planet. New
York: Times Books.
15. Nelson, Gary M. (2010). Social Work and Sustainability: Late to the Revolution
but with Much to Offer. Portland, Oregon: Paper prepared for the Annual
Conference on Social Work Education (CSWE).
16. Nelson, Gary M. (2012). Integrative Leadership. Jordan Institute for Families,
University of North Carolina School of Social Work at Chapel Hill.
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17. Nichols, Alex Ed. (2008). Social Entrepreneurship: New Models of Sustainable
Social Change. London: Oxford University Press.
18. Roseland, Mark (2005). Toward Sustainable Communities: Resources for
Citizens and Their Governments. Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers.
19. Sabeti, Heerad (November 2011). The For Benefit Enterprise. Harvard Business
Review, Vol. 89, No. 11, pp 98-104.
20. Savitz, Andrew W. (2006). The Triple Bottom-Line. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Publishers.
21. Thompson, John and Doherty, Bob (2006). The Diversity of World Social
Enterprise. International Journal of Social Economics. Vol. 33, No. 5/6 pp 361375.
22. United Nations Development Program (UNDP) (2004). Human Development
Report 2004. New York: Oxford University Press.
23. Varela, Francisco J., Evan T. Thompson, and Eleanor Rosch (1993). The
Embodied Mind: Cognitive Science and Human Experience. Boston:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press.
24. Wheatley, Margaret J. (1992). Leadership and the New Sciences: Learning
About Organization from an Orderly Universe. San Franciso: Berrett-Koehler
Publishers.
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Module I: Getting Started— Think—Context and Culture—
Great Awakening
Session 1: August 18th—Introduction—How We Think, Understand Our Historical
Context, and Prepare for the Next Great Awakening
Session Goals: Create a context and framework for the class. Establish who is in
the class and identify expectations.
How We Think
How We Understand Historical Context
How We Prepare for the Next Great Awakening
Personal Interest Assessment—What do you hope to get out of this class and the
experiences associated with it?
Course Overview and Expectations
Overview: Include a Social Work Frame
Expectations—Creating a Social Enterprise for a New Era
Readings:
Despard, Mat (2015). Social Innovation Field Unit. Memorandum Prepared for
UNC School of Social Work.
Nelson, Gary M. (2013). Sustainability and Social Work: Late to the Movement
but with Much to Offer. Jordan Institute for Families, School of Social Work,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Recommended Readings:
Brain Pickings. Issue—Leisure, The Basis of Culture. August 16th, 2015.
Session 2: August 25th —What Is Going On From a Historical Perspective
Session Goals: Create a historical and cultural understanding of what is going on.
What is giving rise to the focus on social entrepreneurship and sustainable
development and a run up to the next great awakening. Appreciate the interplay of
the ‘whole’ to to address our complex social problems.
Presentation: Historical Context—The Social Enterprise State: Direct
Democracy in a Culture of Innovation
Film—The Black Power MixTape
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Readings: Our Choices in Addressing Complex Problems: Race As The
Exception to the American Exceptionalism
Senge, Peter et. al. (2010). “ Chapter 1—A Future Awaiting Our Choices; Chapter
2—How Did We Get in this Predicament and Chapter 3—Life Beyond the
Bubble.” In The Necessary Revolution. New York: Broadway Books.
Recommended Readings:
Coates, Ta-Nehisi (2014). “The Case for Reparations.” The Atlantic (June).
Session 3: September 1st: Social Entrepreneurship, For Benefit Movement and
Sustainable Development
Session Goals: Provide a historical and conceptual overview of the emergence of
the ‘for benefit’, social entrepreneurship and sustainable development movement.
Begin thinking about the social enterprise you will create.
Presentation: Complex Problems and Complex Choices
Guest Speaker: Aaron Nelson, Executive Director of Partnership for a
Sustainable Community, President and CEO Chapel Hill Carrboro Chamber of
Commerce
Readings:
Sabeti, Heerad. (2011). “For Benefit Enterprises’. Harvard Business Review. Vol.
89, No. 11, pgs. 98-110.
Senge, Peter et. al. (2010). “Chapter 4—New Thinking, New Choices; Chapter
5—Never Doubt What One Person and a Small Group of Co-Conspirators Can
Do; and Chapter 6—Aligning an Industry. In The Necessary Revolution. New
York: Broadway Books.
Snowden, David (2002). “Complex Acts of Knowing—Paradox and Descriptive
Self-Awareness.” IBM Global Services.
Snowden, David and Mary E. Boone (2007). “A Leader’s Framework for
Decision-Making. Harvard Business Review.
Thought Piece Due
Session 4: September 8th Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship
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Session Goals: Introduce social innovation hubs, case study enterprises, and
introduce business planning for social enterprises.
Guest Speaker, Mathilde Verdier from the Campus Cube
Guest Speaker, Sarah Marsh—Social Enterprise Case Study
Readings:
Baumann, Carl (2014). Business Planning—Sustainable Social Entrepreneurships.
Score Business Volunteers.
Maurya, Ash (2012). Running Lean: Iterate from Plan o Plan that Works.
O’Reilly Media.
Module II: Design Thinking—From the Individual to the
Collective
Session 5: September 15th —Design Thinking for Individual Social Enterprises
Session Goals: Offer tips on design thinking and the creation of social enterprises
Guest Speaker: Chris Carmody, Social Entrepreneur for Sustainable Social
Enterprises
Readings:
Senge, Peter et. al. (2010). “Chapter 7—Unconventional Allies: Coke and WWF
Partnership for Sustainable Water and Chapter 8—Risks and Opportunities: The
Business Rationale for Sustainability.” In The Necessary Revolution. New York:
Broadway Books.
Session 6: September 22nd —Design Thinking for Social Entrepreneurship
Session Goals: Offer a second accessible framework for business planning and
link to work within an academic setting.
Guest Speaker: Chris Mumford, Entrepreneur in Residence Launch Chapel Hill.
Readings:
Senge, Peter et. al. (2010). “Chapter 9—Position for the Future and the Present.”
In The Necessary Revolution. New York: Broadway Books.
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Session 7: September 29th—Collective Impact Designs and Tools for Large Scale
Innovation and Change
Session Goals: Provide a conceptual and skill based understanding of collective
impact as social entrepreneurship writ large.
Guest Speaker: Michael Owen, Social Entrepreneur and Facilitator
Readings:
Kania, John and Mark Kramer (2011). “Collective Impact”. Stanford Social
Innovation Review.
Kania, John and Mark Kramer (2013). “Embracing Emergence: How Collective
Impact Addresses Complexity.” Stanford Social Innovation Review.
Senge, Peter et. al. (2010) Chapter 15—The Imperative to Collaborate, Chapter
16—Convening: Get the System in the Room, Chapter 17—Seeing Reality
Through Others’ Eyes and Chapter 18—Building Shared Commitment.” In The
Necessary Revolution. New York: Broadway Books.
Special Session—October 5th –Designing Collective Impact Interventions
Session 8: October 6th—Big Data and Collective Impact
Session 9: October 13th—Social Entrepreneurship—Politics of Innovation
Session Goals: Think in terms of disruptive innovation, transformative versus
incremental change.
Guest Speaker: Nick Black
Readings:
Christensen, Clayton et. al. (2007). “Disruptive Innovation for Social Change.
Key Ideas from the Harvard Business Review article by
Christensen, Clayton (2010). “The Innovator’s Prescription—A Disruptive
Solution for Health Care”. getAbstract.
Mid-Term Due
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Module III: Business Planning—Getting Down to Work
Session 10: October 20th —Business Planning
Session Goals: Understand and apply a business planning framework to the
creation of a social enterprise.
Guest Speaker: Carl Bauman, SCORE Volunteer for Kenan-Flagler Launch the
Venture.
Readings:
Senge, Peter et. al. (2010). “Chapter 10—Getting People Engaged.” and Chapter
11—Building Your Case for Change.” In The Necessary Revolution. New York:
Broadway Books.
Baumann, Carl (2014). Business Planning: Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship.
SCORE Business Volunteers, Chapel Hill, NC.
Session 11: October 27th—The Audacity Factory ---Raleigh
Session Goals: Explore and learn from an urban social entrepreneurship
incubator and apply lessons to class design assignment.
Guest Speaker—Chris Howell, Academic and Engagement Program
Manager for Institute for Nonprofits at North Carolina State University
Site Visit—Audacity Factory
Readings:
Senge, Peter et. al. (2010). “Chapter 12—The Tragedy and Opportunity of
the Commons and Chapter 13—Spaceship Earth.” In The Necessary
Revolution. New York: Broadway Books.
Mid-Term Assignment Due
Session 12: November 3rd—UNC Cube—Chapel Hill
Session Goals: Explore and learn from an academic practice clinics and
apply lessons to class design assignment.
Site Visit—UNC Cube--Mathilde Verdier, Coordinator—Resources
for Social Entrepreneurs
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Readings:
Senge, Peter et. al. (2010). Chapter 14—Seeing Our Choices Chapter 19—
Innovation Inspired by Living Systems In The Necessary Revolution. New
York: Broadway Books.
Outline of Social Enterprise Plans Due
Session 13: November 10th —Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship
Session Goals: Explore and learn about a a global leadership program
associated with the renowned Center for Creative Leadership.
Guest Speaker: Lyndon Rego, Center for Creative Leadership
Readings:
Nelson, Gary M. (2014) Integrative Leadership. Jordan Institute for
Families, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work.
Senge, Peter et. al. (2010) “Chapter 14—See Our Choices.” In The
Necessary Revolution. New York: Broadway Books.
Session 14: November 17th—Change Management and Mediation Skills for Social
Entrepreneurs
Session Goals: Learn from an individual skilled in collaboration,
consultation, and conflict mediation.
Guest Speaker: Noel Mazade, Professor of the Practice UNC School of
Social Work.
Readings:
Epps, Deitre (2011). “Achieving Collective Impact with Results Based
Accountability.” Results Leadership Group.
Senge, Peter et. al. (2010). “Chapter 15—The Imperative to Collaborate
and Chapter 16—Convening the System in the Room.” In The Necessary
Revolution. New York: Broadway Books.
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Module IV: Refining and Pitching Social Enterprises Designs
for Impact
Session 15: November 24th —Practice Pitches for Business Plans
Session Goals: Present business design abstracts using the lean canvas
format to a panel of business design consultants to obtain feedback for
refining and deepening business plans.
Business Design Panel—Practice Pitch
Carl Baumann, UNC Business Design Consultant, Launch the
Venture, 1789 Incubator and Senior Corps Volunteer.
Dina Mills, Director of UNC Launch.
Chris Mumford, Social Entrepreneur and Creator of Joe Start-Up
Readings:
Senge, Peter et. al. (2010). “Chapter 17--Seeing Reality through Other’s
Eyes and Chapter 18—Building Shared Commitment.” In The Necessary
Revolution. New York: Broadway Books.
Session 16: December 1st Social Enterprise Design Pitches
Student Final Pitches of Their Social Enterprises
Panel to Be Assembled of Potential Funders
Class Assignments
There are four assignments due in this course:
1. Thought Piece and Course Intention: Letter identifying how you presently
define sustainability and social entrepreneurship and identify what you hope
to learn from this course. : September 1st .
2. Mid Term Take Home—Due October 13th
3. Research and Outline of Key Design Elements November 3rd
4. Clinic Design Presentation: December 1st
The following weights will be applied to the various assignments associated with this
course.
1. Thought Piece
05%
2. Mid-Term
25%
3. Research Design Outline
20%
4. Social Enterprise Designs
40%
5. Active Class Participation
10%
100%
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Course Evaluation
The course will be evaluated using evaluation form developed by the School of Social
Work.
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